Butterfly Effect: joy, healing for bereaved
People release 500 butterflies in memory of departed loves ones at Central Okanagan Hospice Association fundraiser
There was laughter, tears, hugs and hundreds of painted lady butterflies at the sixth annual Butterfly Effect Sunday at Falcon Ridge Farms. The event, which allows people to buy butterflies to release simultaneously in the farm’s gardens, is a fundraiser for the Central Okanagan Hospice Association.
All 500 available butterflies were sold out in advance.
The event was open to the public to watch the butterfly release and take in familyfriendly activities such as face-painting, colouring and cookie decorating.
“It’s a special way to come together with family to remember loved ones and to watch the butterfly fly into nature, which can be very symbolic to all of us,” said Natasha Girard, executive director for the Central Okanagan Hospice Association.
There were tears and embraces as members of the Nicholson family from Vancouver to Winnipeg met at Falcon Ridge Farms to release 18 butterflies together.
It’s been a tough year for the family, who lost some people important to them.
“We’re just looking to get a little healing and find some peace if that’s possible,” said Meagan Badr, who recently married. “We want to start doing things to remember them that’s positive because we feel like we’ve been brought together over tragedy too much lately.”
Bev Kalmakoff, whose husband died last year, returned to the event again this year with her son Brian and her granddaughters Tallulah and Clover.
“I came last year and it was a very moving experience, so I wanted to come again,” she said. “It’s just so nice to see the butterflies. It’s a positive experience for everybody.”
For Kalmakoff, releasing a butterfly last year was spiritual.
“It was a way of connecting. It brings tears to my eye — good tears,” she said.
Some of the butterflies flew away almost immediately while others lingered on people’s fingers, much to their delight.
All of the proceeds from the Butterfly Effect go to the association’s bereavement program, which supports people after the death of a loved one. Services include grief groups, walking groups and professional counselling that supports children to seniors after the death of a loved one.
Joy Wallace is a volunteer for the Central Okanagan Hospice Association.
“I get a great deal of pleasure and fulfilment out of doing this,” she said. “Hospice is a wonderful organization that deals with grief, bereavement and caring for people in our community when they’re ill.”
Both her husband and her mother passed away in hospice.
“It’s a very wonderful experience,” she said. “This is how I give back.”
The Central Okanagan Hospice Association is bringing back the Homes for the Holidays fundraiser Nov. 17, 1 to 9 p.m. People can buy a ticket and take a self-guided tour of private homes decorated for the holidays, with artists, tastings, demos and what’s hot in holiday décor.
Tickets go on sale Sept 1 online at HomesfortheHolidaysYLW.com.
For more information about the Central Okanagan Hospice Association and its programs, go online to hospicecoha.org.